Chapter 2

「Daddy, I want those berries!」

A five-year-old boy came running from behind, tugging at Stanley Dunn’s sleeve and pointing toward the berry bushes not far away.

My heart clenched, and I couldn’t stop myself from stepping out from the shadows of the trees, moving closer to get a better look at him. When I left the Silver Moon Pack, Ryan was barely two years old. He had been kept in the nursery, not even allowed to see me off or say goodbye.

Stanley stood at the entrance of the Dunn Pack’s territory with his new mate, Julieta Gardner, his expression cold and unyielding. He had told me, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, his voice icy and dismissive, that Ryan was not only my son but also the heir to the Dunn Pack. As a rogue without a pack, I had no right to take him away. Then, he turned, wrapped his arm around Julieta, and ordered the guards to shut the gates firmly behind them.

Three years had passed. Did he still remember me, his mother? The thought made my breath quicken, and my eyes welled with tears.

「Ryan, this is the Lycan King’s territory. You can’t just act recklessly here!」 Stanley’s voice was sharp, his tone scolding. But Julieta, standing beside him, scooped Ryan into her arms, her touch gentle as she ruffled his hair.

「Why are you so harsh with him, Stanley? It’s just some berries. I’m sure the Lycan Queen wouldn’t mind.」

With Julieta’s protection, Ryan stuck out his tongue at his father, making a face. 「Mommy’s the best! Let’s go get the berries and ignore Daddy.」

Watching this scene, I couldn’t help but frown. Julieta led Ryan toward the bushes, but as expected, they were stopped by the guards patrolling the area.

「These berries were specially imported for the Lycan Queen,」 one guard said, his voice firm. 「They’re priceless. Who do you think you are to touch them?」

Julieta’s face flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly composed herself, her chin lifting in a show of pride. 「What kind of berries haven’t I seen? If the Lycan Queen is so stingy with a few berries, we’ll leave without them.」 She took Ryan’s hand, her posture haughty as she turned to go.

「No! I want those berries!」 Ryan’s cries echoed through the garden.

Unable to bear it any longer, I stepped out from the shadows and picked a handful of berries, handing them to him. 「Here, don’t cry. Eat these.」

He looked at me, his expression not one of gratitude but of arrogance, his chin tilted in a way that mirrored Julieta’s. For a moment, I studied him closely, feeling a mix of joy and disappointment. He looked so much like Stanley, especially with those cold, distant eyes and the slight curve of his lips that carried a hint of indifference. He didn’t resemble me at all.

Finally, I let out a quiet sigh. 「You have a scar on your face. Are you one of the Lycan Queen’s servants?」 he asked between bites, his nose wrinkling in distaste.

I froze, unsure how to answer. Before I could find the words, footsteps approached. Stanley walked over, holding Julieta’s hand and shielding Ryan protectively. When he saw me, his familiar eyes flickered with recognition, followed by a mocking sneer.

「So, after I cast you out of the Dunn Pack…」 he began, his voice dripping with disdain, 「you ended up as a servant in the Lycan King’s territory.」

He looked me up and down, his gaze filled with contempt. 「Back then, I offered you the chance to stay as my chosen mate, but you refused. Do you think being a servant here makes you superior? Do you even know what I’ve become?」

I had been living in the Lycan King’s territory, under his protection, so I truly didn’t know. When I remained silent, Stanley’s smirk deepened, as if he were certain I was filled with regret and unease.

His fingers brushed the emblem on his jacket, and I suddenly realized. After he had driven me away, with the help of Julieta’s influential family, he had risen to become the Beta of the Dunn Pack. 「Beta of the Dunn Pack, second only to the Alpha!」 he declared, his voice filled with pride. 「A position of great honor. But I doubt a mere servant like you could understand.」

Oh, I understood. Just last night, the Lycan King had held me in his arms, his scent of pine and musk enveloping me as he whispered for me to help him with pack affairs. Changing the Beta of a pack was as simple as a stroke of my pen.

I hadn’t expected Stanley to care so much about his title.